A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Newman City Council in Illinois on October 15, 2024. The request was made by us at East Central Reporter, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability in public institutions, we requested specific records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The information sought includes a list of all council members with their respective names, titles, years appointed, term lengths (2 or 4 years), and term expiry dates.
We believe that access to such public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities as journalists. By providing this information to the public, we aim to enhance understanding and awareness about the functioning of local government bodies.
As part of our commitment to serving the public interest, we have requested these records preferably in an electronic format for ease of dissemination. We also indicated our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news to the public.
The Newman City Council has yet to respond to our request. We will continue to follow up on this matter and keep our readers informed about any developments.
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